Cyndi Loza

Shaw Middle School students would have made Alex Trebek proud on Friday as they whisked through the questions on “Classroom Jeopardy!”

The Jeopardy staff and Clue Crew talent Cheryl Farrell visited Sparks’ Shaw Middle School Friday morning to present the school’s eighth grade language arts class with the “Classroom Jeopardy!” interactive game set. The game simulates the television game show by using a remote controlled program that allows educators to create their own clues to fit their curriculum.

“I sensed the friction of victory,” said Carson Cooke, 13, of Sparks, who was part of the team that won with 7,000 points.

The game helped students become enthralled in their studies and generated competition, Cooke said.

“Especially in a game, you want to get the answers right more,” Cooke said.

Among some of the categories in the game were candy bars, punctuation, amusement park rides, superheroes and “Fahrenheit 451.”

“It made you pay more attention and think through the questions,” said Tyler Allen, 13, of Sparks.

Allen said playing the game was a fun part of his school day.

“We don’t really get stuff like this,” Allen said. “So having Jeopardy come in was a treat.”

Farrell, a Clue Crew correspondent, hosted a game for the second-period class. She travels the world to offer multimedia clues to the participants in the television show.

The Clue Crew has donated the $500 classroom game to dozens of schools in the United States.

“I like to bring Jeopardy’s message to the classroom,” Farrell said. “It’s one thing to see it on TV and it’s another thing to see clues that relate to your study.”

The game helps teach traditional studies in innovative ways, she said.

“I think learning kind of sneaks up on you when you’re having fun,” Farrell said.

Language arts teacher Barbara Surritte said she will give all her eighth grade students a chance to play.

“I think the kids really enjoyed it and it was successful,” Surritte said.